"And then the bird pooped right on Blake's face! You should have seen his face; it was like his whole world shattered!" Blake's dad roared, tears streaming down his cheeks along with everyone else at the table, except for a pouting Blake, who was picking at the shrimp on his plate.
Blake's family was so different from her own. The house was full of laughter and joy. His mom was an absolute angel. His father was a funny man, instantly nice the moment he walked through the door. When Blake's mom told him Emma was the girl from the dance, a big grin had spread over his face. He looked just like Blake, but an older version with shorter hair. Both his parents were currently taking turns telling embarrassing stories about Blake. Emma had to admit, it was funny seeing Blake so embarrassed, especially after the way he'd treated her earlier today. Karma was definitely showing herself tonight.
His mom wiped a fake tear from under her eye. "And then that time he tripped into the pool!" Alex yelled, hitting his hand against the table as if it were the funniest thing he'd ever said, tears rolling down his cheeks. Emma rubbed her cheeks, feeling like this was the first time she had laughed this much in a long time "Okay, okay, that's enough. Don't you think it's time for Emma to go?" Blake whispered, pushing a pea around his plate.
Alex shook his head, looking at his brother, eyebrow raised. "Why would anyone think that?" Emma let out a little laugh before taking a sip of water. His dad wiped his mouth with his napkin before standing up. "Well, I better go back to work. It's 8 already, time flies when you're ha—"
Emma suddenly coughed, choking on the water. Blake patted her back as she struggled to catch her breath. Time really did fly. There was no way it was 8 already "What time did you say it was?" Emma gasped. Blake's dad glanced at his wristwatch for a moment. "7:40. Why?"
She rubbed a hand over her face before standing. "After school, I was supposed to go to dance practice at 5 and be back home by 7. I'm so dead." She let out a heavy sigh.
Blake stood from the table. "I can walk you home."His mom frowned, looking at him. "No, you cannot. You're grounded, young man." he groaned, falling back into the chair "I'll just drop her off on my way to work," his father offered. "Maybe I can reason with her parents. Go get your things, honey." Emma thanked him before running upstairs.
Blake watched her go, then shoved the rest of his food into his mouth before standing with his plate. "All done." He walked to the dishwasher, putting it in, then went upstairs to find Emma.
He saw her in his room, frowning as she gathered her dirty clothes. He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "You might as well just wear my clothes home. You're already in trouble anyway."
She looked over at him. Honestly, there was no way his dad would be able to reason with her mom, whether she wore her own stained clothes home or wore his. She shrugged, looking at the dirty uniform in her hands. "Maybe it won't be as bad if I wear my own stuff, though." She walked past him into the bathroom to change.
A few minutes later, she came out in her uniform skirt, holding the dirty top in her hands, but wearing the Green Day shirt. "That's a good look on you," Blake said, grinning from his spot at his desk.
She groaned in frustration, hiding her face in her shirt. "I'm so dead, Lake."
He looked over at her before standing up. He took off his jacket, draping it over her shoulders. "There, problem solved. Wear my jacket home. I'll wash your shirt and give it back tomorrow."
She pulled her head out of her shirt, handing it to him while smiling as she put on the jacket. "Thanks, Blake. Wish me luck." He saluted her. She laughed, walking out his door and running down the stairs. He heard the front door close. He walked over to his bed, laying back and looking at the ceiling, idly playing with her dirty shirt in his hands.
"I approve... but you're still grounded," his mom said from the doorway, arms crossed, a small smile on her lips, before walking away.
****
"Just let me do all the talking, and hopefully, you'll get out of this alive," Mr. Black said with a grin as they walked up the steps to Emma's house. She felt like his overconfidence wouldn't work in this situation, but she didn't want to crush his hopes of him getting her out of trouble.
He knocked on the door. It was opened by her father. "Where have you been, Emma? We were worried sick! First, we get a call from your school saying you didn't show up for the last three classes. Then we get a call from Claudette, your dance teacher, to hear that you didn't show up to practice! Where on earth have you been, young lady!" he yelled in her face.
She looked up at Mr. Black, as if this were his moment to get a word in. Because she knew once her mother got here, no one would be able to get a word in "Sir, I can explain..." Mr. Black began with a hand raised "Where is she! Where is she!?" her mother shrieked, pushing her father aside, her face red with anger.
"How dare you, young lady? Just... how dare you? Do you know how bad this makes me look? Skipping classes, skipping rehearsals! You're turning into one of those junkie gutter people!" she said in disgust, still not paying attention to Mr. Black. "And what in God's name are you wearing?" she demanded, pointing to Blake's jacket.
Mr. Black let out a fake cough, gaining both her parents' attention. They turned to look at him. "There was an incident at the school involving another girl, apparently, and that's my son's jacket she's wearing because her shirt got ruined." her mother looked up at her father, apparently only hearing what she wanted to hear from Mr. Black's comment. "Did you hear that? Now she's getting into fights! It's only a matter of time until she's in prison!" Her father just shook his head with his arms crossed.
Her mother pointed a finger in Emma's face. "I swear, ever since you came back from that dance, you've been a whole different person. Whoever 'he' is messed you up! Everything was fine until that night!" Mr. Black glared at her, looking slightly offended about the way they were talking about his son. "Hey, that's my son you're talking about!" she looked him up and down as if he were dirt on her shoe.
It made Emma just want to disappear. "So, you're the father of the demon that turned our poor daughter bad, huh? I don't want you or your son around my daughter ever again!" she yelled before looking at Emma. "GO. TO. YOUR. ROOM."
Emma let out a frustrated sigh before walking inside and upstairs, slamming her room door and locking it. She threw herself onto her bed. She heard her parents yelling at Mr. Black for a while before the front door slammed shut.
"You're never getting your phone back, and you're grounded! I should have never let you go to that dance! We were living fine before!" her mother screamed.
Emma yelled back, "I wasn't living before the dance! I was just fucking surviving, Mother!"
(Mia note: Oooh drama
YOU ARE READING
It Started With Hello
Romance***** Emma Pear knew she wasn't the most popular girl in high school. Her nose was usually buried in a textbook, and her grades were as spotless as her reputation for always following the rules. "Nerd" was a label she'd long since embraced. Her pare...
